Social cohesion policy support

In early 2016, Gauteng Premier David Makhura tasked a group of eminent persons to form what has become known as the Gauteng Champions for Nation Building and Social Cohesion. The group, includes Yvonne Mokgoro (Chair), Mary Metcalfe (Deputy Chair), Frank Chikane, Giet Khoza, Luli Callinicos, Tasneem Motara, Khalil Goga, Shan Balton, Raenette Taljaard, Amos Monyela, Gcina Malindi, Roger Jardine, Barbara Masekela, and Mbali Hlophe.

The mandate of this group was to produce a report advising the Provincial Government on the underlying causes and dynamics of challenges to building a society free of racism and xenophobia, proposed interventions, and a provincial plan of action to combat racism and xenophobia. The group met 10 times during the course of 2016-2017. GCRO participated in these meetings and played a supporting role by coordinating and co-authoring a framework document.

Independently of this process, the City of Johannesburg approached GCRO in late 2016 to provide research support on social cohesion. GCRO completed a report in June 2017 based on an analysis of its 2015/16 Quality of Life IV survey and an analysis of existing and past efforts to improve social cohesion in South Africa.

The material produced for both of these policy support processes will be made available as a GCRO research report.

Presentations

Kate Joseph (August 2017) 'Social cohesion as a concern of local government: learning from past and current initiatives'. Faces of the City Seminar. Wits university, 01 August 2017.

Richard Ballard (February 2017) ‘Inclusive Gauteng, a framework document on social cohesion’. Workshop with Gauteng Champions for Social Cohesion the Gauteng Department of Education, Johannesburg. 16 February 2017.

Last updated: 30 October 2017.

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